It's a classic risk-reward finishing hole from elevated tees, with a green reachable in two good shots for average golfers. A bunker guards the right side of the fairway, which tilts toward marshland bordering the left side.

So much depends on an accurate tee shot. The large green is fairly flat, making it is easier to get a chip or a long first putt close to the hole.

NO. 2: PAR-4, 430-YARD 12TH AT BING MALONEY GOLF COURSE, SACRAMENTO &GT;&GT; What makes this dogleg left memorable – and at times miserable – is a very tall cottonwood in the middle of the fairway about 150 yards out.

The small green, which slopes back to front, is guarded in front by a steep-faced sand trap. Another bunker and a hedge are behind the green.

Since a high, soft approach shot is needed to hold the green, the hole's first order of business is a big one: navigating that tree off the tee. The best options are a tall ball over the top or a high draw around. Laying up right of the tree leaves a very long second shot.

Bogey can be an honorable score here.

NO. 3: PAR-4, 422-YARD 16TH AT ANCIL HOFFMAN GOLF COURSE, CARMICHAEL &GT;&GT; A large oak standing in the left middle of the fairway about 150 yards out bestows significant driving problems on this dogleg right. The tee shot is further confounded because, all up the right side, it is death by trees, including a clump that juts into the fairway about 225 yards out. Greenside bunkers complicate approach shots.

Make par and you'll have honors on the 17th tee.

NO. 4: PAR-4, 320-YARD 10TH AT WILCOX OAKS GOLF CLUB, RED BLUFF &GT;&GT; A weirdly lovable hole that doglegs sharply left and demands a blind, keep-the-driver-in-the-bag tee shot. Even from the safety of the right side of the fairway, the biggest problem remains: properly positioning the second shot to a smallish green that crowns a steep plateau. If you miss the green left, you might not be able to see the flagstick for your third shot. Don't go there.

NO. 5: PAR-5, 532-YARD 15TH AT SEVILLANO LINKS, CORNING &GT;&GT; If the sometimes-severe Sevillano wind is helping rather than hurting, I can occasionally drive an island landing area that is a tantalizing two-shot shortcut to the green. A boring ol' fairway, of course, is provided for those averse to gambling. Some scenic sunsets are out this way for twilight players.

NO. 6: PAR-4, 394-YARD 16TH AT GOLD HILLS GOLF CLUB, REDDING &GT;&GT; The first — and toughest — of Gold Hills' three stress-filled finishing holes. The fairway is steeply uphill, with a big tree protecting its right side and out-of-bounds left and right. You need to grind — mentally and physically — to make par.

NO. 7: PAR-4, 382-YARD 2ND AT CANYON OAKS COUNTRY CLUB, CHICO &GT;&GT; Driver can only get you in trouble on this dogleg left because of a hazard dissecting the fairway. Thick trees left and right and severely sloping rough right demand a straight 3- or 5-wood off the tee. The green, which sits in something of a bowl, is long and slopes back to front. A single oak guarding the green's right side provides a picturesque fairway view.

NO. 8: PAR-5, 477-YARD 17TH AT TUSCAN RIDGE GOLF COURSE, CHICO &GT;&GT; Tee shots must avoid out-of-bounds left and a big tree right. For golfers who can actually hit the fairway, what makes this hole fun is a second shot over a canyon to a sprawling, three-tiered green. The green slopes severely right to left toward a hazard, making chipping from the right side difficult.

NO. 9: PAR-3, 205-YARD 3RD HOLE AT DARKHORSE GOLF CLUB, AUBURN &GT;&GT; I love this "grip it and rip it" wood shot from an elevated tee to a huge, flat green. Stay out of the deep bunker left, as there's room to bail right, from which par is still in play.

NO. 10: PAR-4, 416-YARD 14TH HOLE AT BIDWELL PARK GOLF COURSE, CHICO &GT;&GT; Hazard left, tree trouble right. A tight draw off the tee up the left side can catch the fairway's downward slope and really roll. The kidney-shaped green can make for some fun blue-flag pin placements to fire at.

Dave Waddell of Chico is a journalist and teacher who enjoys playing and watching golf, especially with his son Michael, who helped write this article. He can be reached at dwaddell@csuchico.edu.